Deep Fried Pickles

Another State Fair favorite of ours.  Another recreation from our party.  I know, they sound disgusting...or at least I thought they did.  Maybe you think they sound delish!  As a side note, if you haven't already, try these at the State Fair.  Only, order the ones that also have cream cheese in them.  We'll have to investigate this year how they accomplished this addition. 

To save myself some time, visit the onion ring recipe.  Now, instead of onion slices, use pickle slices. Dredge them in the flour mixture, just the same, and then the batter, and then the Panko bread crumbs.  Into the fryer, onto the paper towels, dipped in ranch.

Tedious, but another favorite from the party.

Deep Fried Snickers

About five years ago the State Fair introduced their latest stick creation.  Deep fried candy bars on a stick.  I had to try one.  If it's made with Snickers, there is a chance I will love it.

My thoughts were mediocre.  While tasty, it was WAY too much breading and just fell like a brick into the bottom of my stomach.

At our State Fair party we decided to try them ourselves.  Only, I suggested we just use fun size Snickers because I didn't want anyone feeling sick after trying it.  The results were outstanding.  I think I had four.

Ingredients
Snickers (pick your size, but the fun size worked well for us!)
1.5 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 c milk
2 T white vinegar
1 T vegetable oil (I used olive oil).

1. Freeze your candy bars.  Rock hard.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Whisk in the wet ingredients.
4. Coat the frozen candy bars in a thin layer of flour (or cornstarc).
5. Dip them in the batter, shaking off the excess but ensuring the candy bar is completely covered.
6. Fry until golden brown and then just a touch longer to make sure the inside is all melted and gooey.
7. Sprinkle with powdered sugar
8. Eat, repeat.

State Fair Corn Dogs

We recently hosted a "State Fair Warm Up" party with our neighbors.  We tried corn dogs, cheese curds, fried pickles, onion rings, and fried snickers.  Some recipes worked better than others.  The following was Riley's favorite (and Amy's too).  Riley worked her way through two large corndogs in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients
1 c flour
2/3 c yellow cornmeal
1/4 c white sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 c buttermilk
1/2 t baking soda
2 pounds hot dogs; room temperature
cornstarch
disposable chop sticks (wooden, found in your Asian section of your grocery store)

1. In a bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar baking powder, and salt.
2. Make a well in the center, and pour in the egg, buttermilk and baking soda.  Mix until everything is smooth and well blended.
3. Pour the batter into a tall glass and place in the refrigerator for about an hour.
4. Pat the dogs dry and coat them in a thin layer of cornstarch.
5. Insert a chopstick into each dog, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top.
6. Heat the oil to 365
7. Dip the dogs into the batter a couple times for a nice thick coating of batter. 
8. Place in the fryer.  The longer sticks should serve nicely when you want to flip them around (since they will stick out of the oil).
9. Drain on a paper towel and serve!

Onion Rings

I've recently decided that onion rings might be one of my favorite foods.  But, I'm very picky about them.  I don't like them too thick, or too greasy.  We have made the following recipe a few times and these onion rings are my absolute favorite.

Ingredients
Yellow Onion, sliced into rings (you decide the thickness)
1 1/4 cups flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
Italian flavor Panko bread crumbs (the Panko part is mandatory)
fryer

1. Heat the fryer up to 365 degrees. 
2. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Dip the onion slices into the flour mixture until they are all coated, set aside.
4. Whisk the egg and milk into the flour mixture. 
5. Dip the floured rings inot the batter to coat, shake off excess.
6. Coat battered rings in bread crumbs.
7. Deep fry the rings 4-5 at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. 
8. Remove and drain on a paper towl.

Serve with ketchup or ranch, or your favorite sauce!  Delicious!